Garment finishing apparatus



Dec, 12, 1950 R. w. BRENNER ET AL GARMENT FINISHING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet l F'iltd March 20, 1947 &

. INVENTORS ROBERT W. BRENNER BzloHN FZ. PETRE ATTORNEYS R. w. BRENNERET AL GARMENT FINISHING APPARATUS Dec. 12, 1950 Filed March 20, 1947 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ROBERT W. BRENNER' & B(JOHN R. PETRE %%71( wflaw ATTORNEYS Dec. 12, 1950 R. w. BRENNER ET AL 2,533,761

GARMENT FINISHING APPARATUS Filed March 20, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 so :0477 4 11 w .L' .g -.2s 63 I," 1:22:11; I 55 :23 a 2e 65 23 56 Ewoy V 47 g|9\ 58 |O3 25 I FIG-ll 22 99l 94 59 v II 32 1} 48 ll i: 98 24- 14 91 9295 o 62 A F'eos i-yR T w ENNER a. 96 3O 60 BY JOHN R. PETRE FIG. 8 Afwma 1% ATTORNEYS Dec. 12, 1950 w, BRENNER ET AL 2,533,761

GARMENT FINISHING APPARATUS Filed March 20, 1947 4 SheetsSheet 4 FIG? l2INVENTORS ROBERT W BRENNER & JOHN R. PETRE BY ,7

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENTFINISHING APPARATUS Robert 1 Brenner, Fosters, and John R. Petre,Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to The American Laundry Machinery Company,

Cincinnati,

15 Claims.

This invention relates to garment finishing apparatus of that type inwhich the garment, such as a mans or a woman's coat, jacket or overcoator other garment, is dressed upon a pervious but rigid form to which itis shaped while passing steam or air through it during the usual garmentfinishing treatment or process.

One object of the invention is to generally simplify and improve suchapparatus by combining in one machine a tilting and rotatable dividedform by means of which steam or air flow may be confined to one half ofthe garment with an efficient steamer and air heater, and unusuallysimple and convenient means for controlling and directing the flow ofair or steam.

Another object is to provide such apparatus in which the controllingdevices, which here are foot pedals, are all brought into closeneighboring relation convenient for use by the operator at the controlstation without changing her position.

Another object is to shorten and straighten the air and steam passages,thus decreasing overall bulk and securing increased efficiency.

Still another object is to improve the supports or mounting for theform, thus holding it in place more solidly and firmly and avoiding anychance of its escape from the base, but yet enabling it to be freely,smoothly and easily adjusted to any desired position.

Another object is to simplify and improve the damper mechanism, and theoperating means therefor, which controls the direction of air flow.

Another object is to provide simple, efficient and easily operatedlatches for certain of the control devices, enabling them to be easilyoperated by the foot, so that the operators hands may be employedentirely upon the garment itself and the form upon which it issupported.

A further object is to provide an improved apparatus of this kindcapable of use interchangeably with various types or styles of form,such as a form for mens overcoats, one for womens jackets, a dress form,or any other style.

Further objects of the invention in part are obvious and in part willappear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of theinvention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken out and in section, part ofthe form being shown in dot and dash lines, and the damper operatingparts being shown in blocking or by-pass position;

Figs. 2 and 3 are generally similar views, on a smaller scale, showingthe same operating parts, respectively, in air suction and airpressure'positions;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partly broken out and in section, the form beingomitted;

Fig. 10 is a detail front elevation of the form I latching mechanism,with the form in tilted position;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional elevation, on the line lll I, Fig. 1,showing the form registering devices;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional elevation on the line l2--I2, Fig. 4;

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional plan view, on the line l3-l3, Fig. 12,certain covering parts being removed, and with the tilting member in anupright position;

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional plan View line l4-I4, Fig. 12; and

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the form tilting andsealing devices, with gaskets omitted to clarify the illustration.

Referring first to Fig. 12, the garment finishing apparatus shown in thedrawings includes a circular base l0 supporting a floor H and drumlikehousing l2 which enclose an air heating chamber l3, within which islocated the air heating and steam supplying pot or member, marked I4,bolted to the fioor and later described in detail. Rigid lateralparallel arms IE on the base support an electric or other form of motoror power unit l6 coupled to drive a suitable fan or blower ll. Steam potM in turn supports the garment receiving form, marked generally l8,which may be of any desired shape or form, depending upon the style orcharacter of the particular garments to be finished. One form may beused, for example for mens overcoats, and another, interchangeable withthe first, for ladies jackets, another for ladies dresses, and so on, aswill be readily understood.

on the The heater and steamer The steam pot l d, in general, is likethat shown, described and claimed in a prior patent for GarmentFinishing Apparatus, No. 2,421,203, granted May 27, 1947, to George W.Johnson, to which reference may be had if desirable or necessary, sothat brief description thereof will sufiice. It

' includes outer and inner walls it, 28, the former having heatradiating fins or ribs 22, said walls enclosing a heating chamber 25through which steam is circulated from the supply pipe 23 to the drainor exhaust pipe 2 (Figs. 12 and 8). From the chamber '25 steam may becaused to flow by way of pipe and whistle valve 25 to the discharge pipe2?, which directs the steam against the hot bottom of the inner pail orwall member 20 (Fig. 12), thus preventing condensation and consequentwater spotting of the garment. Valve 26 (spring biased to valve closedposition has the usual operating lever 28 connected by link 29 totreadle 363, by which it may be opened to any desired amount, while amultiple notched latch lever 3!, foot operated and biased by spring 32,releasably holds the treadle 38 in any position to which it may beadjusted. Steam discharged into the pail member 23 rises, or is carriedby the air stream, into the hollow Peri/ions form I 3, through thepervious wall of which it is distributed to and upon the garment dressedthereon, for the removal of wrinkles and otherwise to assist in shapingof the garment, as is usual.

The outer surface of the outer wall at of the steam pot, with its ribs22, continually supplies heat to the air current flowin through chamberi3, so that, at any time, hot air may be likewise distributed over andpassed through the garment.

The air flow system Upon a collar 33 at the inlet end of the fan, andupon the base extensions 55, is supported a conduit member 35,communicating openly, at its inner end, with the air chamber it throughan opening in the housing or casing i 2. A center wall 35 divides thespace within the conduit into two channels 3e, 37, each opening into theair chamber l3, as before stated, the channel 35 communicating with theair inlet to the fan and thechannel 3? with its outlet. (Figs. 1 to 7.)Each channel has a side opening 38 to atmosphere, shielded by a coarsescreen 3%], that to channel 35 being provided with a slidable, manuallyadjustable cover it, Fi 1, by which it may be partially closed or openedto any amount to regulate the quantity of air flow, and that to channel3! being provided with an external deflector 4|, Fig. 4, to deflectoutflowing air away from the operator.

Airflow through channels 35, 32 is controlled by two dampers 42, as, oneopposite each opening 38.

Damper 62 is on a shaft All; having an arm t5 connected by link 46 toone arm i'i of a pivoted bell crank lever having a foot treadle 38. Bydepressing this treadle, damper 32 may be moved from the position shownin Fig. 6' to that shown in Fig. 5,

Damper 3 is on a shaft 69 having an arm 5% onn cted by link o ne a m 52of a w armed lever mounted to turn on but not with shaft M, the otherarm 53 of said lever being connected by link 5 to one arm 55 of a leverhaving a second arm 55 connected by link 5'? to one arm 58 of a bellcrank lever having a foot treadle 59. By depressing foot treadle 59,damper 43 may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shownin Fig. 6.

A third treadle as has its rear arm ti provided with a cross pin 62, thetwo ends of which,

respectively, lie beneath treadle levers #28, 59. By depressing treadle'EiL'either or both of treadles 43, 59 (whichever may be down) may beelevated to return the damper which itoperates to its other position.

Fig. 7 illustrates the parts in their normal blocking or by passposition, resulting from depression of treadle $3. No air fiows to orfrom the garment form, but only from one opening 38 through the fan tothe other. Steam, however, may be supplied to the form and garment bydepressing treadle 3! In Fig. 5, the right hand suction or vacuumtreadle as has been depressed, moving damper 42 to close the inletopening 33. Suction is effective in the form and air is drawn in throughthe garment and discharged through the outlet opening 38.

In Fig. 6', the left hand blower or air supply treadle 59 has beendepressed, closing damper 43 over the outlet openin 33. Air fromatmosphere enters channel 35 and is forced through channel 37 by thefan, is heated in chamber !3 and then is forced outwardly through thegarment.

Thus the operator, by appropriate operation of the several treadies, isenabled to either steam the garment without or with hot air, or subjectit to inward flow of atmospheric air alone or outward flow of heated airalone, at will.

The tilting and turning form As before stated, the form is carried uponand by the steam pot, This firmly supports two brackets each carryingone of a pair of opposite alined pins or trunnions 64 on which isjournailed a cylindrical or drum like form supporting member 135 havinga central hub (it and four radiating walls or spokes Bl. Half only of onend openin 68 of the cylinder is closed by a cross wall In the hub 65 ismounted a bushing or bearing member it having a top flange ii seating onhub 65, and into which bushing depends a shaft or post 12 of the formit. This enables the form to be rotated about a vertical axis upon itssupport or to be taken out and replaced by another form with a likedepending post but shaped to receive difierent garments.

The space Within the form is divided by a cross wall 73 into twoseparate chambers 14, Ma, said wall at its upper end supporting the neckblock or form 15 and suitable shoulder supporting arms.

attached thereto (not shown). Wall 73, of course, is imperforate, beingmade of sheet metal, while the garment supporting member 15 of the form,on which the garment is dressed, is of porous material, comprising arelatively rigid mesh structure covered by a closely fitting,non-expandable cover.

Wall 73 is ri idly mounted upon a base including an outer collar or ringH and a hub 18 conn cted by radial spokes 19, two of which are in thesame plane as wall E3. Shaft 72 is secured to the hub '53, while theskirt of form member 75 is fastened to ring '11 by a sleeve Ma. Thelower edges of spokes 1e lie close to the upper edges of spokes 6"! andring 5? has a flange 88 closely encircling the cylindrical wall ofmember 65 (Fig. 12),

Around the front of the apparatus, the form support is provided with 2.depending crescent shaped sealing flange or shell 8!, of spheroidalform. Its outer surface is polished and smooth and is in contact withthe edge of a felt sealing gasket 32 fixedto the casing 12. A stop 83 onshell 85 engages the upper edge of the casing to prevent the form fromtipping forwardly, or toward the operator, beyond the vertical. Thissealed joint prevents escape of air or steam from the heating chamberaround the front half of the machine.

The rear half of the device is similarly sealed. This time, however, thespheroidal shell member 84 is fixed to the casing, while the gasket 85is mounted on and moves with the tilting form along th inner surface ofthe shell, thus sealing the joint around the rear half of the machine.

Cover plates 86, 87, one on the support 65 at the front, and the otheron the casing at the back cover the sealin parts, protect garments fromoil, grease, dirt, etc., and improve the appearance.

At the front (Fig. 12), support 65 is provided with a depending arm 88on which hangs a latch bar 89 having a lateral arm 90 from which atension spring 9| extends to a lug 92 on the machine base, thus biasingbar 89 to swing to the right (Fig. 8). This spring also is strong enoughto hold the garment form firmly in upright or vertical position.

On the front of the steam pot M (Figs. 10 and 12), is a rectangular lugor boss 53, on which is pivoted a beilcrank tripping member 94, one armof which is connected by link 95 to a treadle lever 96 pivoted on thebase. The other arm is provided with a pin 9'! lying opposite the edgeof lever 89 and cooperatin with a V-shaped notch or recess 93 therein.Lever 89 also has a rectangular notch 99 in its same edge.

Fig. 8 shows the parts in normal, upright position, in which they areyieldingly held by spring 9 I. When the operator tilts the formrearwardly (by hand pressure applied to it), latch bar 83 is carriedupwardly. As it rises its sloping edge l to engages pin 91, I'OCklIlglever 94 clockwise (Fig. 8) and lifting treadle e5. When the limit oftilt is reached, the rectangular notch 95 comes opposite lug 93 the barsnaps over to engage the lug in the notch, thus firmly, but releasably,looking the form in tilted position. Now, whenever treadle 96 isdepressed, the pin Q! on bell crank lever 94 is swung to the left,bearing against the latch bar, and more particularly against the upperedge of the v-shaped notch 93 therein. The effect is to slightly liftthe latch bar and reduce friction and wear at the rectangular notch, sothat bar 89 is easily swung to the left, freeing the lock and permittingthe form to move to up right vertical position under tension of spring9! As before stated, form 18 is rotatable on its support about avertical axis. Means is provided to definitely locate or register theform in either of two positions, in each of which the cross wall 13extends transversely and is co-planar with the transverse cross ribs 5?.The means shown therefore in Fig. 11 includes two cups lfil, eachcontaining a latching dog or ball 32 pressed upwardly by a spring Hi3against the flange 8!! of the form base member and adapted to partiallyenter one of two oppositely disposed recesses H34 therein.

This arrangement enables the form to be turned so that either its front(at the left in Fig. 9) or its back facesthe operator, enabling her towork on any part of the garment without changing her position. In eitherposition of the form, air flow from the heating chamber to and throughthe form, or in the reverse direction, is permitted only through thathalf of the form (chamber H or Ma) nearest to the operator, flow throughthe other half being blocked by the cross wall or floor 69 of support65. All joints between relatively movable parts are either sealed, as bygaskets 32, 85 or are very close, as between flange 80 and thecylindrical wall of member 65, so that no hot air or steam escapes,except through the form and garment or from the fan outlet at deflector4|.

By depression of the appropriate treadle 48, 59 or 60 either steamalone, or steam and hot air, may be applied to the garment, or suctionmay be caused to draw air inwardly through it. By tilting the form thegarment may be more closely fitted or applied to it.

The air vacuum system is very simple, with short straight passages, andwith reduced overall bulk by location of the steam pot beneath the form;The treadle control mechanism is also very simple and easy to operate.Also, while the form is readily removed for replacement or repair, it isstable in position, with no chance of accidental escape from itssupport. Again, all latching and tripping mechanism is enclosed andprotected and the machine has a pleasing external appearance.

It should also be noted that the form supporting member serves fourdistinct purposes, to wit, to rotatably support the form, to providepivotal mounting therefore about a transverse horizontal axis, as an airseal, and to close ofi the back compartment of the form against airflow.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art.

What we claim is:

l. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described, comprising ahollow, chambered base, a pervious hollow garment form mounted upon saidbase with the space therein open to the chamber of the base, an airheater in the basechamber, a blower at one side of the base, short,straight conduits connecting the inlet and outlet of the blower to thebase chamber, each provided with an opening to atmosphere, and a damperfor each opening.

2. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described, comprising ahollow, chambered base, a pervious hollow garment form mounted upon saidbase with the space therein open to the chamber of the base, an airheater in the base chamber, a blower at one side of the base,

-short, straight conduits connecting the inlet and outlet of the blowerto the base chamber, each provided with an opening to atmosphere, and adamper for each opening mounted within its conduit and movable from afirst position closing its opening to a second position closing itsconduit from the base chamber.

3. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described, comprising ahollow, chambered base, a pervious hollow garment form mounted upon saidbase with the space therein open to the chamber of the base, an airheater in the base chamber, a blower at one side of the base,

short, straight conduits connecting the inlet and outlet of the blowerto the base chamber, each provided with an opening to atmosphere, adamper for each opening mounted within its conduit and movable from afirst position closing its opening to a second position closing itsconduit from the base chamber, and means for independently actuating thetwo dampers.

4. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described, comprising ahollow, chambered base, a pervious hollow garment form mounted upon saidbase with the space therein open to the chamber of the base, an airheater in the base chamber, a blower at one side of the base, short,straight conduits connecting the inlet and outlet of the blower to thebase chamber, each provided with an opening to atmosphere, a damper foreach opening mounted within its conduit and movable from a firstposition closing its opening to a second position closing its conduitfrom the base chamber, and two foot treadles, one connected to eachdamper and adapted when depressed to move it to its first position.

5. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described, comprising ahollow, chambered base, a pervious hollow garment form mounted upon saidbase with the space therein open to the chamber of the base, an airheater in the base chamber, a blower at one side of the base, short,straight conduits connecting the inlet and outlet of the blower to thebase chamber, each provided with an opening to atmosphere, a damper foreach opening mounted within its conduit and movable from a firstposition closing its opening to a second position closing its conduitfrom the base chainbentwo foot treadles, one connected to each damperand adapted when depressed to move it to its first position, and a thirdfoot treadle operatively associated with the said two foot treadles andadapted when depressed to elevate either or both thereof and therebyreturn their dampers to the second position.

6. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described comprising ahollow, chambered casing having a circular top opening, means forcausing the flow of air through said chamber and opening, a hollowpervious garment form provided with a wheel-like base having a rim,spokes and a hub, and a shaft depending from said hub, and a formsupporting member pivotally mounted upon the base to turn upon ahorizontal axis and extending across its top opening and having acylindrical rim, spokes and hub, the last named hub being provided witha bearing bushing to receive said shaft and upon which the form base hubis supported.

'7. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described comprising ahollow, chambered base having a circular top opening, means for causingthe flow of air through said opening and chamber, a hollow perviousgarment form provided with a wheel-like base having a rim, spokes and ahub, and a shaft depending from said hub, and a form supporting membermounted upon the base and extending across its top opening and having acylindrical rim, spokes and a hub, said hub being provided with abearing bushing to receive said shaft and upon which the form base hubis supported, and a semi circular horizontal fioor ci'oslng the spacebetween certain of the spokes of the supporting member and thus shuttingoff air fiow through such space.

8. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described comprising ahollow, chambered base having a circular top opening, means for causingthe flow of air through said opening and chamber, a hollow perviousgarment form provided with a wheel-like base having a rim, spokes and ahub, and a shaft depending from said hub, and a form supporting membermounted upon the base and extending across its top opening and having acylindrical rim, spokes and a hub, said last named hub being providedwith a bearing bushing to receive said shaft and upon which the formbase hub is supported, said supporting member being pivoted on the base,and a spheroidal sealing shell of crescent form and a cooperatinggasket, one on the base and the other on the supporting member, forpreventing air leak between them.

9. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described comprising ahollow, chambered base having a circular top opening, means for causingthe fiow of air through said opening and chamber, a hollow perviousgarment form provided with a wheel-like base having a rim, spokes and ahub, and a shaft depending from said hub, and a form supporting membermounted upon the base and extending across its top opening and having acylindrical rim, spokes and a hub, said last named hub being providedwith a bearing bushing to receive said shaft and upon which the formbase hub is supported, said supporting member being pivoted upon thebase upon an axis diametrical to and across said opening, and spheroidalsealing shells of generally crescent form, one on each side of thepivotal axis, for sealing the joint between the base and supportingmember in various positions of the latter.

l0. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described comprising ahollow, chambered base having a circular top opening, means for causingthe flow of air through said opening and chamber, a hollow perviousgarment form provided with a wheel-like base having a rim, spokes and ahub, and a shaft depending from said hub, and a form supporting membermounted upon the base and extending across its top opening and having acylindrical rim, spokes and a hub, said last named hub being providedwith a bearing bushing to receive said shaft and upon which the formbase hub is supported, said supporting member being pivoted upon thebase upon an axis diametrical to and across said opening, and spheroidalsealing shells of generally crescent form, one on each side of thepivotal axis, for sealing the joint between the base and supportingmember in various positions of the latter, one of said shells beingattached to the base and the other to the supporting member.

11. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described comprising ahollow, chambered base, having a circular top opening, means for causingthe fiow of air through said opening and chamber, a hollow perviousgarment form provided with a wheel-like base having a rim, spokes and ahub, and a shaft depending from said hub, and a form supporting membermounted upon the base and extending across its top opening and having acylindrical rim, spokes and a hub, said last named hub being providedwith a bearing bushing to receive said shaft and upon which the formbase hub is supported, said supporting member being pivoted upon thebase upon an axis diametrical to and across said opening, and spheroidalsealing shells of generally crescent form, one on each side of thepivotal axis, for sealing the joint between the base and supportingmember in various positions of the latter, one of said shells beingattached to the base and the other to the supporting member, and agasket for each shell.

12. Garment finishing apparatus, of the character described, comprisinga hollow chambered base having a circular top opening, a supportingmember pivotally mounted upon said base upon an axis diametrical to andacross said opening, a hollow garment form mounted upon said supportingmember, a latch bar depending from and mounted to swing upon said memberand having a side notch, a fixed lug on the base cooperating with saidnotch, and a spring connected to said bar and biasing it toward said lugto interengage the two, and a spheroidal sealing shell of generallycrescent shape mounted upon the supporting member and closing any gapbetween it and the base and also covering and concealing the latch barmechanism.

l3. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described, comprising ahollow, chambered base having a circular top opening, a steam pot andair heater within the base below said opening, and a hollow garmentsupporting form pivotally mounted upon said steam pot upon a horizontalaxis diametrical to and across said open- 14. Garment finishingapparatus of the character described, comprising a hollow, chamberedbase having a circular to opening, a steam pot and air heater within thebase below said opening, a hollow garment supporting form pivotallymounted upon said steam pot upon a horizontal axis diametrical to andacross said opening, and a spheroidal sealing shell of generallycrescent shape for closing the gap between the base and form in variouspositions of the latter.

, 15. Garment finishing apparatus of the char acter described,comprising a hollow, chambered base having a circular top opening, asteam pot and air heater within the base below said opening, and ahollow garment supporting form pivotally mounted upon said steam potupon a horizontal axis diametrical to and across said opening, and twospheroidal sealing shells of generally crescent shape, one on the baseand the other connected to the form for closing any gap between base andform in various positions of the latter.

ROBERT W. BRENNER. JOHN R. PETRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,585,387 Hulse May 18, 19262,214,923 Glover Sept. 17, 1940 2,338,776 Miller Jan. 11, 1944 2,410,485Du Nah Nov. 5, 1946 2,453,730 Shaw Nov. 16, 1948

